Product Description

A journey into the future of Britain that accompanies the three part BBC TV Saturday evening prime time documentary of the same name.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #356784 in Books
• Published on: 2000-01-17
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 228 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Post-imperial, post-colonial and now post-millennial, Britain is definitely not what it was. As a new century opens, even Scotland and Wales, not so very long ago indissoluble components of the "Inner Empire", are flexing their devolutionary muscles and looking about for new opportunities and relationships. The artificial nation-states of 19th century real-politik seem less and less viable in an age of blurred boundaries and regional alliances. What does this mean for the United Kingdom? What, ultimately, does it mean for England? Does the future lie with Europe or with the USA? Where do we turn? In The Day Britain Died political journalist (and expatriate Scot) Andrew Marr explores this unprecedented national identity crisis and offers a vision of a possible resolution.

It's a wide-ranging, incisively-written and often witty treatise. Marr wrote The Day Britain Died to accompany a television series, travelling the country to interview people at all points on the political and ideological spectrum, from romantic Little-Englander ruralists, to businessmen relishing their opportunities in the new global service industries, to Eurosceptics, to Bangladeshi entrepreneurs, to Green theorists and politicians. The views expressed on national identity and the future are varied, energetic and often surprising, but cannot disguise a sense that, in contrast to its neighbours, England as a nation is running on empty. Andrew Marr places this against the background of a subtle, considered discussion of the historical and political forces that shaped Britain and determined its relations with Europe, the USA and the rest of the world. He concludes with a powerfully-argued case for a revitalised British federation of interdependent states, backed up with a strong written constitution (and Alan Bennett as president--this may or may not be a joke). The issues this book raises are difficult and divisive, yet affect the lives of everyone living in the place still called Britain.--Robin Davidson

Review
With the same relaxed but informed voice that made Ruling Brittannia such a success Anthony Marr has attempted an anatomy of Britain and 'Britishness'. In the spirit of JB Priestley and George Orwell, he embarked on a country-wide tour hoping to catch the elusive butterfly of national identity in the net of his acute journalism. The result is eminently readable and honest - where Orwell had the agenda of social injustice Marr issues disclaimers about being a watchful bystander. He talks about his own idenity as a Scottish Londoner who received a very English education, belonging to a generation for whom 'Hornblower was past, but Dan Dare was still to come.' His topics range from Brit-art to a watery-eyed nostalgia for the golden age of cricket that commentators were hankering after in Punch, in the nineteenth century. Talking to all sorts of Britons including inner-city Bangladeshis, eco-warriors and farmers teetering on the edge of bankruptcy Marr builds up a mosiac of opinions and asks the question: what happened to our collective sense of identity? And, if Britain has died why didn't anyone hear the dead mans rattle? (Kirkus UK)

Customer Reviews

One of few " political commentary" page turners!
As an Australian, I was probably not part of the target audience for this book, but this did not stop me finding it fascinating. I am about to move to London and was looking for a book that gave me some idea about the country I was going to, its people and its politics. I got a very potted UK history, the best information I've thus far had on the logic behind the EU, an interesting perspective on Americanisation, some background on London, and some beautiful stories about British people. My favorite chapter was "The New British and the World" and I will never forget the pages about Mukheem Ahmed, the British Bangledeshi who remembers the public support that followed the 1999 Brick Lane nail bomb attack. This book could have been another dry treatise on the modern day mismatch between the aspirations of ordinary citizens and vote obsessed politicians, which seems to be worldwide, but it isn't. For someone who knew virtually nothing about modern Britain, this book was perfect. And yes, the reviewer below who said the book wasn't well edited is right. But, it's not that bad, and the content is so good that you barely notice! If you are at all interested in the political future of Britain, read this book!

A useful, if somewhat rushed contribution to a needed debate
Quick comment on the book. I did enjoy reading it and it did raise valid points...it has been a previously explored area, but Andrew Marr does refer to this in the book. I disagree...in implication that the book is unnecessary, instad I feel it is a sign of a growing debate that is needed about the contradictions between the populist Britian and the reality of Britain. My main problem with the book was two things - it did seem rushed in comparison to Paxman - perhaps the timing of the series with the Darcus Howe series on channel 4 (which needs a book) was more than a little coincidence. My second reservation was Marrs political comments at the end, whilst I support the sentiments found there, I felt that they were bolted on and too quick and cosmetic a conclusion - ironically an issue he and I agree on about New Labours spin-merchants. I call upon Andrew to write a 2nd edition with a bit more depth, more variety of reportage and considered solutions. Even better, team up with Darcus and produce a lively debate.

Some good points made...
I certainly cannot agree with the previous reviewer. Andrew Marr is indeed a Scot, but he is certainly no boneheaded nationlist who thinks that all the english are bullies and fascists. Furthermore he does not give any more space to one political extreme or the other. This well written polemic encompasses opinions from all sides. The difference between this book and other pieces currently on the market is that it is less concerned with a (somewhat pointless) navel gazing exercise as to who or what we are, rather than a look at what the future may hold for the british isles and what possible solutions there are to the genuine misgivings a lot of british people have with the current devolution agenda. This is backed up with some interesting and relevant background to the development of our nation as well as a well balanced and generous view of Englands position in the world. No point in giving too much away, but the his views are well worth taking on board and must be read by anyone even vaguely interested in this evolving debate